The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-24
THE MIDLAND ROAD.
The MagBiilcent Territory Through
which IL Passes.
Extract Prem Col. Josiah PatfeF-
sens Speech 10 the Davidson
County Court.

The following is an extract from the !
speech OF Dol. Josiah Patterson, deliv.
cred before the Davidson County |
Court 1t pertains to the Midland
road and bears particularly upon the
route. He said:
Follow me while I describe again
the line Of this rosd II has Its west
ern terminus at Memphis, q city OF
10000 people, city which this year
controlled and handled $4,000 bales
OF cotton and which is reaching ont
everywhere for the commerce OF the
Southwest. II there connects with the
Cheapeake and Ohio, the Louisville
ard Nashville, the Memphis and
Oharl,ston, the Kansas City, Memphis
and BirmiDg1am the Missieeippi and
Tennessee, the Louisville, New Or.
leans and Texas, the Mem phis and
Little Rock, the Kansas City, Spring.
field and Memphis, and the Memphis
and Bald Knob railroads, and forms
connection with the Mississippi river,
which drains the waters from twenty.
three States Of the American Unisn.
IL goee thence 10 Bonneville, In Fay
cite county; thence to Whiteville, in
Hardenan county; thence to Jack
son, In MadinoD county; thence
to Lexington, In Henderson county;
thence 10 Perryville, In Decatur
county; thence to Linden, in Perry
IN 40 l..
Hickman county; thence through
Williamson county to Nashville, In
Davidson county; thence up the va.
ters OF Stones river through Ruther-
ford county 10 Woodbury., in Cannon
county; thence to Rock Island, In
Warren county; themes up the Csney
Fork, through the northern edge Of
Van Buren, county; thence through
Cumberland and Morgan counties,
along the waters IL 0bed and Emory
rivers to Emory Gap; and thence east.
wardly no the Holston, Clinch or
Powell's Valley 10 the Virginia State
line. There 1t copnscis with the Vir-
glnia Western, which Ia the extension
Of the Tennessee Midland in Vir-
ginia, therce from the Vir-
ginia State line up the val.
lev Of the Cliuch, distance OF about
2t0 mles, 10 q junction with the
Richmond and Allegheny road and
with the Baltimore and 0aio, and
thence over the Richmond and A 10
aheny 10 the loot OF the Chesapeake
bay, and over the Baltimore and OHIO
TO the head Of the same bay. On this
line OF railroad 10 every variety OF eli
mate, Of production and OF resource
known TO Tennessee. At Jackson tbs
Midland connects with the Mob le and
0nio and Illinois Central railroads,
at Perryvllle with the Tennessee river,
at Nashville with the Louisville and
Nashville system, at Emory Gap with
the Oinci AZ ati Southern railway, and
by Its connections reschss all the
markets East on the Atlantic sea-
board.
ain the fall OF 1885, the gentlemen
who conceived the idea Of building this
road came to me aad asked my opin.
ion as 10 the prscticabiity OF securing
subscriptions from counties, cities and
towns aonR the line OF The road to ard
In its construction. / at fret replied
thai 1 did not thipk II could be done.
i was thoroughly acquainted with the
STATE Of public opinion In Tennessee In
respect 10 railroads. i had been
prominent in an tfsrt 10 regulate
them. knew the State bad suffered,
and was familiar with the history OF
the State deb, and had somewhat
prominently taken q pa I, not only
In condemnipg the methods A.. by
which q large part OF II was created,
but Ia DEBATING settlement which l
thought WOULD be just 10 the people
Of the stae. i had, In the course Of
my profession ! life, become acquainted
with number OF instances where
c untirs aud towns had improvide lily
snbscribed 10 railroads, and thereby
become Involved In deb, without any.
thir z TO show for IL. l knew the law
upon the statute books 10 be more OF q
trap 10 catch the unwary than sys.
TEN suited 10 encourage the devel-
opmsnt OF q great State. Tnese
were the considerations which
frt controlled my opinions on
this utject. Then, wSen I 70.
f.cted That THE line Of railroad
bad been uppermcst 10 the thought.
OF Tennesseaps for many years, and
wha, II would do for the State.
thought that something 10 aid IL ought
10 De done. When / 70 Ascted tia, Il
would come ~ q taxpayer and would
yield In taxes In most instances q fund
10 pay the interest on the sub scrip.
tions that might be asked, l concluded
that / might prepare q law which, u
the General Assembly would pass
would TO tuch q degree challenge the
conf fence q the people on the line
that they would not hesitate 10 vote
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